Seabourn's Luxury Antarctica

Small ship luxury line Seabourn is offering some great value Antarctica sailings over the winter months, with a series of cruises from £8,999 per person. Complementing what is the most expansive schedule of any line are attractive savings incentives in 2013 that include onboard spending credits of up to $1,000 per suite on November and December voyages.

 

Seabourn's award-winning ships will visit more than 20 ports on voyages ranging from 21 to 24 days, exploring an array of scenic wonders including the breathtaking Lemaire Channel, picturesque Paradise Bay and the Gerlache Strait. Experienced Antarctic expedition staff including scientists, naturalists and other lecturers in a number of disciplines will speak on board and accompany guests ashore to hundreds of available sites for landings adding insights to their once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

2013 Antarctica itineraries include:

21-day Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia (Seabourn Sojourn): November 20, Buenos Aires to Valparaiso; Ports of Call: Buenos Aires. Montevideo, Port Stanley; Antarctic Experience* - Ushuaia, Scenic Cruising Beagle Channel, Glacier Alley and Cockburn Channel; Punta Arenas (Chile); Strait of Magellan; Scenic Cruising Canal Sarmiento, Amalia Glacier, Chilean Fjords; Puerto Chacabuco (Chile); Scenic Cruising Gulf of Corcovado, Castro; Isla Chiloe and Puerto Montt (Chile); Scenic Cruising Reloncavi Sound; and Valparaiso.

Cruise prices start from £8,999 per person, including $500 per person onboard credit (maximum $1,000/suite) and complimentary upgrade to a Veranda suite.

24-day Holiday Antarctica, Patagonia & South Georgia Island (Seabourn Sojourn): December 11, Valparaiso to Buenos Aires; Ports of Call: Valparaiso, Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, Ushuaia; Scenic cruising Cape Horn, Drake Passage and Southern Ocean; Antarctic Experience* - Grytviken, South Georgia; Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

Cruise prices start from £10,299 per person, including $500 per person onboard credit (maximum $1,000/suite).

All guests will receive a complimentary Seabourn expedition parka and back-pack for spectator essentials. Prices are per person and based on two sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini bar. Fares including scheduled flights, pre-cruise hotel accommodation and transfers are available on request.

*The Antarctic Experience provides guests with exclusive activities based on real-time reports of wildlife weather and ice conditions. Such experiences include Zodiac landings and expeditions to Antarctic locations, digital photography workshops and opportunities for frequent wildlife sightings from the ship and on shore. 

 

For bookings, click on this link for The Cruise line, the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists.

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Crystal's South American Odyssey

Ultra-luxury line Crystal Cruises begins its South American cruise season in November with a stunning 16-night Miami to Rio de Janeiro voyage followed by a 12-night Rio to Buenos Aires sailing. 

And, to experience more of South America, as well as Crystal’s renowned, award-winning offering, travellers can combine the two voyages and save an additional 5%. 

In all, Crystal Symphony’s Brazilian calls include Belém, Fortaleza, Natal (maiden call), Maceió, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro (overnight), Buzios, Ilha Grande, Paraty, Santos/São Paulo, and Rio Grande du Sol. Depending on the departure, the cruises also include ports in the Caribbean, Uruguay and Argentina. 

All-inclusive fly/cruise fares start from £3,576 per person for the first sailing on November 23 and from £3,792 per person for the subsequent sailing on December 9. The price of the two cruises starts from £6,221 per person fly/cruise.

Crystal's expertise for creating unique, luxury experiences both on land and at sea have helped earn the company top ratings from international travellers for two decades. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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A Patagonia Spectacular With Tauck

This isn't strictly cruising, but seeing as how our trip to Chilean Patagonia with Nomads of the Seas was so spectacular a couple of years ago, we thought this was well worth highlighting...

Guided tours specialist Tauck has unveiled a new 11-day journey to Patagonia for 2014 that explores the landscapes, culture and history of the rugged region shared by Chile and Argentina near South America’s southern tip. The new itinerary will feature departures from January through March and from October to December of next year and is among 31 different trips comprising Tauck’s portfolio of Exotics journeys.  

Booking are now open on all 2014 Exotics trips, and full information on the entire collection, including itinerary descriptions, pricing and departure dates, is now posted on the company’s website.

 

According to CEO Dan Mahar, the new exploration of Patagonia is a logical addition to the company’s existing South American journeys.  He said: “Our new Patagonia itinerary is a focused, immersive exploration of an incredibly scenic region, making it a great choice for past travellers returning to South America or for first-timers who really enjoy nature. It’s the perfect complement to our broader, 14-day ‘Essence of South America’ itinerary, highlighting cities like Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro as well as natural wonders like northern Patagonia and Iguazu Falls.”

 

The new itinerary begins with a welcome reception, dinner, and overnight in Santiago, Chile.  The following morning, guests fly to Puerto Natales on the shores of Ultima Esperanza (“Last Hope”) Sound, where they’ll enjoy a four-night stay at the Singular Patagonia Hotel. A former waterfront factory and now a luxury resort, the hotel will serve as Tauck’s base as guests explore Torres del Paine National Park (above), visit a ranch for lunch and a look at local life, and take a day-cruise among the fjords, inlets, waterfalls and ice floes of Ultima Esperanza Sound.

 

The Patagonia journey then crosses into Argentina for a three-night stay at Los Sauces Casa Patagonia, a five-star hotel owned and operated by Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Located in El Calafate, a small, picturesque village on the shores of Lake Argentino, the hotel is convenient to Glacier National Park where guests will enjoy a cruise on Lake Argentino, highlighting Upsala Glacier, which towers 100ft higher than the vertical drop of Niagara Falls. Guests will disembark for a visit to Estancia Cristina, a sheep and cattle ranch named for the daughter of the English immigrant who founded the ranch in the early 1900s. While at the ranch, guests will enjoy lunch, visit the ranch’s museum to learn about its history, and hike to a vantage point offering spectacular, panoramic views of Upsala Glacier.

 

Following a flight to Buenos Aires, guests conclude their journey with a two-night hotel stay at the Sofitel Buenos Aires Arroyo. Here there will be the chance to attend a tango show and venture outside the city to the artist community of San Antonio del Areco, with an equestrian demonstration by Argentinean cowboys, or gauchos, and a meeting with members of the Draghi family. World-famous silversmiths, the Draghis have crafted works of art for local gauchos, heads of state, and Hollywood celebrities alike.

 

Tauck’s new exploration of Patagonia is priced from $6,490 per person, double occupancy, plus international airfare. Included in the price are all sightseeing and admissions, two intra-tour flights, all ground transportation, including airport transfers, luggage handling, and much more.

 

For more info, call Tauck at 1800 468 2825, or visit www.tauck.com. In the UK, call The Cruise Line on 0800 008 6677.

 

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Argentina v Falklands - Cruise "Cowards" Row Rumbles On

Since the Daily Telegraph highlighted the decision of more cruise lines to pull out of visits to the Falkland Islands after "intimidation" by Argentina (i.e. by the Argentinean ports saying they cannot guarantee the safety of visiting ships that also visit the Falklands), and our red-hot debate over whether this amounts to cruise cowardice - more news agencies have picked up the story and highlighted the massive iniquity in operation here.

Our columnist Captain Greybeard added a blog about it on his regular posting for the Daily Mirror, pointing out our editor's comments on the situation and highlighting the lines involved.

The Shipping Times also weighed in with more government reaction to the ongoing dispute, which, of course, dates back to Argentina's dispute of the sovereignty of the Islands, claiming them as their own while they have been a British territory since 1833 (with the 1982 War being the most obvious example of that histility).

Another Telegraph story highlights British PM David Cameron's call for the Islanders themselves to send the world a definitive message about their nationality wishes in their March referendum.

Friday's Montreal Gazette also mentioned the issue in their weekly cruise round-up, opining that "Hopefully, Argentina will grow up when it comes to allowing ships that berth in their ports to visit the Falklands." We couldn't have put it better ourselves.

And even USA Today has covered the story, asking if Argentina should be boycotted as a result of their rogue behaviour (another view we would share whole-heartedly).

It will be interesting to see if more mainstream media pick up on this theme in 2013, and if the UK's Passenger Shipping Association has any comment about it.

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Cruise Cowards?

Silversea Cruises is the latest line to pull out of cruise calls to the Falkland Islands following threats of intimidation at Argentine ports.

They join a list of companies, including Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises and German Aida Cruises who have all cancelled Falklands visits after being told their "safety" couldn't be guaranteed at the likes of Ushuaia and Buenos Aires if they also called at Port Stanley.

Excuse me? The safety of ships visiting Argentinean ports can't be guaranteed, so you cancel calls to the Falklands?

Doesn't that sound totally twisted in terms of logic? Moral cowardice, even?

If Argentina can't guarantee ship safety at their ports (and somehow makes it a Falklands issue), isn't the answer not to go to Argentina? Exactly like P&O Cruises announced, by cancelling their visits to Argentina.

It's perfectly feasible for ships to miss the likes of Ushuaia and Buenos Aires and instead call at Punta Arenas (Chile), Montevideo (Uruguay), South Georgia and Port Stanley. If they want to.

Why in the name of all that's sane would you go to the "unsafe" ports and cut out the ones that still welcome cruise ships and go out of their way to accommodate them? Isn't that just giving in to a bully?

Silversea's UK general manager, Mike Bonner, in the ultimate example of Orwellian double-speak, insisted: "Due to ongoing political uncertainty, Silversea has taken the decision to cancel scheduled calls at Port Stanley for voyages departing in the coming weeks. These voyages will now include alternate ports of call and, where possible, guests will be notified prior to embarkation. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these schedule changes. The safety of our crew and passengers remains our foremost concern.”

So, "political uncertainty" in Argentina means you still go there? Really? In the same way that, for example, political uncertainty in Egypt means cruise lines cancelling calls to Alexandria. Do you see a difference?

Come on, Mike. That is absolute baloney and you know it. The cruise lines may think they need Argentina, but that is definitely not the case. And, if you tell your customers the real story, I'm sure the majority will back you up.

Boycott Argentina - NOT the Falklands.

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Hapag-Lloyd's Antarctica

Antarctica is classed among the most sensitive ecosystems in the world and is under special ecological protection. The Hapag-Lloyd Cruises expedition ships Hanseatic and Bremen have been using the more environmentally compatible diesel oil in the polar regions for years and long before a corresponding law entered into force in the year 2011. 

Beyond this, a code of conduct for Antarctica stipulates behavioural guidelines for visitors. These include that visitors are required to protect sensitive mosses, lichens and grasses and respect a safe distance to animals, for instance five metres in the case of penguins. These rules are communicated by experienced lecturers on board and in the context of time spent ashore.

Expedition Highlights in Antarctica:

• Zodiac tour in Paradise Bay and setting foot on the Antarctic mainland
• Landings in colonies with hundreds of thousands of penguins on South Georgia
• Bathing in the hot springs of Deception Island
• Whale watching
• Cruising through the pack ice and to huge table icebergs
• Sailing though the Lemaire and the Neumayer Channel
• Visit to a scientific station
• Landing at Cape Horn

Cruise Example: Expedition Semi Circumnavigation Antarctica with the Hanseatic from Ushuaia/Argentina to Bluff/New Zealand, 25.1.2014 – 21.2.2014, 26 days, from $20,550 per person cruise-only, including charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's adventure-cruise specialists. 

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Fascinosa Looks Fab

At last, some good news for beleaguered Costa Cruises - the Costa Fascinosa, the largest Italian-flagged cruise ship, has entered service for the big Italian-based line in Venice to a significant fanfare and positive reviews.

Costa's new flagship weighs in at 114,500 tons and carries 3,800 guests and was delivered by the big Fincantieri shipyard in Venice on May 5. She is the joint-largest Italian-flagged cruise ship, together with her sister Costa Favolosa.

The company, which is still dealing with the loss of Costa Concordia in February, has invested a total of €510 million in the newcomer, with the construction process in Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard involving the labour of around 3,000 yard workers plus a further 7,000 contractors.

After a successful maiden voyage, Fascinosa will spend the rest of the 2012 summer season (until the end of November) operating on seven-day cruises from Venice and Bari to Greece and Croatia. In winter, she will transfer transatlantic for South America cruises to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Then, in summer 2013, she will be back in the Eastern Mediterranean on one-week holidays to Greece and Turkey, with departures from Venice and Bari. 

For  bookings, follow this link to our sponsors The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading cruise specialists.

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Historic Day For Silver Explorer

Silversea Cruises are proud to announce their Silver Explorer and its Expedition Team accomplished a first in the ship’s history late last month, landing guests at Point Wild, Elephant Island – the location where survivors of the Shackleton Expedition lived under two lifeboats for more than four months while hoping for rescue.

After attempting to take guests to Elephant Island for nearly 10 years, Silver Explorer’s Captain Alexander Golubev was able to tuck the ship into a small and slightly sheltered bay just to the West of Point Wild, due to good weather conditions. Explorer’s unstructured itinerary to ‘Cruise and Explore the Antarctic Peninsula’ allows the Captain and the Silversea team to determine the exact itinerary as the voyage progresses, as conditions can vary so much in the Polar regions. 

Both guests and crew can take full advantage of the available conditions to explore as many sights and make as many zodiac excursions and landings as possible, and this was especially true in the case of Point Wild.

Guests can also combine true expedition cruising with an elegant onboard lifestyle with Silversea Expeditions. Offering two 10-day trips from £6,339 per person, on an all-inclusive basis, voyage 7226 departs December 3 and voyage 7227 departs December 13 from Ushuaia. Silver Explorer departs from the Argentine port and cruises through the Drake Passage and then the Antarctic Peninsula, before returning to Ushuaia. Price is per person, based on two people sharing a View Suite and includes all shore excursions, port charges, government fees and taxes. Economy flights are available from £2,299 per person.

Fares for voyages embarking/disembarking Ushuaia include economy class charter air service between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, plus transfers between Ushuaia airport and pier, on day of embarkation and disembarkation.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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G Adventures 2011/12 Line-Up Of Polar Cruises

G Adventures introduces its 2011/12 Arctic and Antarctica cruise season with a slew of new features. Perfect for the cold weather and adventure enthusiasts, a trip aboard the M/S Expedition delves deep into the vast array of wintry wildlife and breathtaking scenery of narrow waterways, glaciers, icebergs and rugged mountains, which very few people will ever have the opportunity to see.

G Adventures is pleased to provide free destination cruising guides, as well as complimentary Wellington boots for the duration of the trip to keep passengers' feet warm and dry. Plus, travellers on select cruises who book category five cabins receive exclusive, complimentary Canada Goose Adventurer jackets. Parkas are also available for purchase online for $269 (approx: £173).

G Adventures 2011/12 Polar Cruises
For the ardent adventure-seeking passengers, Gap Adventures now offers sea kayaking in the Arctic and Antarctic - a unique opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with the native wildlife. Following in the footsteps of bold explorers, travellers can also camp and experience the majesty of Antarctica at night. Excursions must be pre-arranged as they are not sold on board.

Travellers with ample holiday time can also enjoy extensions and add-ons pre- or post-cruise. Antarctica extensions allow travellers to unravel the mysteries of Easter Island, indulge in the fine food and wines of Chile and Argentina or travel to the heart of the Amazon to discover Iguazu Falls. Arctic add-ons allow travellers to explore the beauty of Longyearbyen (Svalbard Islands) and Oslo.

Passengers who book a space on a selection of the Arctic cruises by January 31 will also receive a 25 per cent early-booking discount.

Uniquely equipped to meet the demands of cruising in polar environments, the Expedition provides an exceptionally safe, spacious and comfortable experience for all passengers. At a nimble 105 metres in length, the ship is able to approach remote areas to which many other vessels cannot navigate. This is also one of the most stable expedition ships in its class.

For more information, visit http://www.gadventures.co.uk./

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Polar Diving Partnership

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Aurora Expeditions new polar partnership with polar dive experts Waterproof Expeditions will offer guests further excitement on adventure cruises. The partnership has plenty of synergy, with Aurora Expeditions having earned their reputation as a pioneer in polar cruising operating professional, high-quality expeditions onboard the Polar Pioneer since 1992 and Waterproof have more than 20-years dive experience in the Polar regions.

Waterproof and Aurora Expeditions are also welcoming renowned underwater photography specialist Franco Banfi aboard for their 'Across the Circle' voyages, departing February 4 and 15, 2011. Aurora Expeditions' passengers can glean expert information from this world champion in underwater photography. His images have been featured in magazines such as BBC Wildlife, GEO, National Geographic, Stern, Scuba Diving, and in countless publications worldwide, making him more than qualified to embark on Waterproof and Aurora Expeditions' new adventure.

For each of these dive and photography expeditions, Waterproof Expeditions will provide experienced polar dive masters, all dive planning and equipment. Divers will be treated to a unique dive container providing comfortable storing space for gear and a heating system for dry suits and BCDs.

There is availability for both divers and explorers on two 12-night departures ("Across the Circle" Voyages) onboard the Polar Pioneer sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the Antarctic Peninsula:

4-15 February 2011
15-26 February 2011

Prices from $6,400 per person, including accommodation, full board and all daily excursions and activities while onboard the Polar Pioneer. The dive package costs an additional $1140 and includes dive compressor, tanks, weights and belts (divers need to bring their own personal dive gear) and leadership by an experienced Polar Dive Master. Flights are not included.

**Special offer - Aurora Expeditions are offering 20% off the 'Across the Circle' voyages until November 30. For further information, visit http://www.auroraexpeditions.com.au/ or try the adventure cruise specialsists The Cruise Line Ltd.

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